To assist Long Beach’s population of former college students working without a completed degree, Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal recently announced the introduction of Assembly Bill (AB) 1858.

This proposed bill would create a new pilot partnership between California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and Long Beach City College (LBCC) in which former CSULB students who left university before completing their bachelor’s degree are awarded joint associate degrees. 

According to CalMatters, the bill would also authorize the chancellors of the California Community Colleges and California State University (CSU) to include three additional community college districts and CSU campuses in the pilot program. As it stands, only LBCC and CSULB would be required to participate in the program. 

An aerial view of the Walter Pyramid at California State University, Long Beach
on April 30, 2021. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Long Beach City College and the USC Rossier School of Education’s Pullias Center received a nearly $1 million federal grant to promote higher education for gang youth. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

“Too many Californians have completed significant college coursework but left without a degree to show for it,” said Lowenthal in a public statement. “AB 1858 recognizes that progress and turns it into opportunity. This pilot will help former students earn a meaningful degree that supports better jobs, higher wages, and economic mobility, while showing how institutions can work together to close California’s ‘some college, no degree’ gap.”

Over 37 million Americans have attained some college experience without earning a degree or credential, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s 2025 Some College, No Credential report. 

This statistic includes close to 6 million Californians. Reasons for students withdrawing from their studies range from the COVID-19 pandemic and family caregiving obligations to personal and financial challenges. Without a credential to show for their academic investment, these former students face additional challenges in an already competitive labor market. 

Thus, AB 1858 would retroactively award joint associate degrees to former CSULB students who stopped within the past decade after finishing a minimum of 60 units and general education requirements. Through this pilot program an estimated 1,000 former students could receive a degree. Associate degree holders earn 18% more than individuals with only a high school diploma, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

A group of students sit together and watch as speakers address the graduating classes of 2020 and 2021 during the CSULB commencement ceremony. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

“Building on the Long Beach College Promise and our longstanding partnership with Long Beach City College, we’re ready to address a challenge higher education has faced for years in a practical and student-centered way,” said CSULB President Andrew Jones in a public statement. 

AB 1858 is sponsored by the CSU, Office of the Chancellor. Now that it has been announced, the bill will be referred to the relevant policy committees and be discussed later this year.

“The path to a commencement stage does not always follow a straight line, and this innovative pilot program recognizes each step of that life-changing journey,” said CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia. “The CSU is grateful to Assemblymember Lowenthal for his leadership in introducing AB 1858 which will allow us to meet students where they are and create greater access to the power and possibility of a college degree.”